British & Irish Lions watch - What are the hooker options and who will fly to New Zealand?

Warren Gatland will have to weigh up Dylan Hartley’s qualities - Rex Features

Warren Gatland and his Lions lieutenants will soon be assembling to make their final selection decisions, poring over each position to pick the squad to tour New Zealand. This 37-man group will be announced on April 19.

Next up on our run-down is the pivotal role of hooker. Gatland is likely to take three men to battle over the Test number two shirt – but there is a plethora of contenders. Here they are.

Dylan Hartley

Having started and skippered all 18 of England’s matches under Eddie Jones, it is the intangible quality of leadership that tops Hartley’s inventory. This will not be lost on Gatland, who has outlined his respect for the Rotorua-born 31 year-old in the past.

Under Hartley’s stewardship, England have looked steelier than they did during the Stuart Lancaster era. Could he be the ideal midweek captain? After missing the 2013 tour due to suspension, he will be desperate for a spot.

Averaging 4.1 carries per 80 minutes and a tackle completion of 83 per cent since the 2015 Rugby World Cup, Hartley is languishing towards the bottom of the tally for open-play contributions.

However, his scrummaging is solid and a lineout throw success of 94 per cent puts all other rivals in the shade. The presence of England lineout guru Steve Borthwick among the coaching staff, and the need to combat some excellent All Blacks jumpers, might count in Hartley’s favour.

Fraser Brown

Brown’s eye-catching form in the early part of the season for Glasgow Warriors unfortunately gave way to a frustrating Six Nations.

Will a tip-tackle on Elliot Daly prove costly for Fraser Brown?Credit: REX

Figures of 8.1 carries and 10.7 tackles per 80 minutes underline his busy, bustling style and, as a prominent part of the Warriors’ all-action attacking structure, he would thrive in fast-paced matches on the upcoming trip.

Boasting just 387 minutes over 10 Tests since 2015, Brown would represent something of a calculated gamble from Gatland. That said, this is one of the more open positions and the Scot cannot be discounted.

Jamie George

He holds a bittersweet world record as the man with the most international caps yet to start a Test, but George’s 18th Test appearance could easily come in New Zealand this June.

Doubters pointing to George’s lack of experience from the first whistle should be reminded that he excels most weeks for an all-conquering Saracens outfit, normally in the number two shirt. Like, Hartley, the 26 year-old can benefit from an existing understanding with Borthwick.

Ken Owens

Arguably the in-form international of this crop, Owens enjoyed his best Six Nations to date. The carrying of ‘Cannonball Ken’ added verve to Wales’ phase-play and he punched above his 109kg weight in the tackle area.

Such effervescent loose play means his throwing is probably underrated – a success-rate of 93 per cent is second only to Hartley among the home nations hookers to have featured in a Test since the last World Cup.

Ken Owens is arguably the in-form hookerCredit: GETTY IMAGES

Registering 12.7 tackles per 80 minutes, over a longer period than George, means he can offer the stamina and energy that Andy Farrell’s defensive system requires. Gatland knows his worth as well.

One concern might come in the discipline stakes. Owen has conceded nine penalties his last 814 minutes for Wales. Only Ross Ford, with seven over 625 minutes, has infringed at a higher rate. Another worry might be whether Owens’ slighter frame can stand up to a ferocious scrum battle.

Rory Best

So, to another international captain and one boasting a recent win over New Zealand in Chicago to boot.

Best is a composed leader who communicates calmly and effectively with referees. His dialogue with Jerome Garces in the win over England – asking the French official to protect Johnny Sexton from late hits – was extremely measured. He also managed the clock intelligently.

Rory Best showed his excellent leadership in DublinCredit: REX

His rate of carries (6.5 per 80 minutes) and tackles (8.9 per 80 minutes) are middling, as is an 87 per cent return from the lineout.

What does count in the 34 year-old Ulsterman’s favour is experience of the 2013 Lions tour. Besides that, he offers poaching expertise at the breakdown while simultaneously setting a disciplined example for Joe Schmidt’s charges. A tally of three penalties over 1039 minutes works out at one every four and a half games. That is exceptional.

Ross Ford

Now 32, Ford numbers 107 caps for Scotland with another Test appearance from the bench for the 2009 Lions in their dead rubber victory over South Africa.

He had forced his way into the starting team for Vern Cotter’s final match in charge, but an ongoing tussle with Brown means he has been restricted to 625 international minutes since the start of 2016.

Ross Ford fells Ireland prop Jack McGrath Credit: AFP

In that time, Ford’s average of 11.9 tackles at a completion rate of 93 per cent marks him out as a solid one-on-one defender. However, with a lineout throwing success-rate at 83 per cent, Gatland will have reservations.

Sean Cronin

Coming off the bench for Leinster A on Friday evening to score a try, Cronin returned from a hamstring complaint that derailed his Six Nations.

Fit again, the pacey, barrelling runner is sure to come up in the selection conversation. Numbering 32 carries in 144 minutes for Ireland since the last World Cup, he is a nightmare for tiring defences.

Sean Cronin has worked hard to get fit

The All Blacks are at their most dominant in the fractured closing stages, so why not take the initiative with a impact player like Cronin?

Richard Hibbard

Calls for Hibbard to travel are growing louder, and not just from Kingsholm where the shock-haired hooker is enjoying a late-career renaissance.

His muscle on the gain-line was an indelible feature of the 2013 Lions series against Australia – who could forget the sickening collision with George Smith? But would Gatland bring him back having jettisoned him from the Wales fold in 2015?